As usual there was a crowd overlooking the training arena. Jen was ranked 22nd, and that was after retesting 3 times. She was curious to see where this military hero would place.

He was put up against Wyoming and CT- in a pillar maze- with taser rounds. The bullets caused painful temporary paralysis to the body part for a minimum of 30 seconds (depending how long it took the fighter to pry it off.)

Body hits were 1 point; head shots (for logical reasons) were auto-eliminations, and 10 points. He had to get as many points as possible before being eliminated.

The rounds themselves were not loud, but Wyoming and CT were using enhanced weapons that made echoing distortion noises with every shot. In the corridors of the maze this was a problem. He could not make out any shapes, but he knew in advanced how tall the pillars were. Florida did a running jump up the side the 12 foot pillar, and with a flip land on top of the pillar.

Now they would be forced to fire straight up, making the rounds easier to dodge. He could also see how far apart the pillars were; a distance he could easily jump (with his non-military gymnastics and parkour training).

He would only try for a few shots at a time, and only when he knew he had a clear shot. Wyoming and CT had access to unlimited ammo, he had only 30 rounds.

In addition; Florida's sonar vision only allowed him to see the world as a black and white grid; like an low resolution, unfinished render. So as such he could not see his target until he was close enough to make out the shape of a moving body.

He hit Wyoming in the chest and shoulder multiple times, but that was the easiest body part to recover from, as the armor displaced the pain and paralysis effects. He could tell what direction Wyoming was coming from, so he decided to try something more -creative.

Sprinting and leaping in the direction he thought Wyoming would be, he fired 3 rounds, mid jump, landing a head shot. (He assumed, as he couldn't really tell from the angle he was facing, and he wasn't about to pause to check.)

Wyoming tore off his helmet to relive the pain, "CT, be a dear and line up a head shot" he said over their com line.

"copy that- I want to GTFO if here." The girl, Bonnie no older than 20 or 21, with the voice of a 16 year old, took position in a spot Florida would not be able to see. And although he was eliminated Wyoming continued to fire, to trick Florida in to crossing CT's line of fire.

Technically she succeeded in eliminating him, but unfortunately for Florida it wasn't a head shot-it was a neck shot. He fell to the ground gasping for air, trying to get the round off, as the electricity forced his airway closed. He blacked out, waking up much later, in the medical ward.

"Jen?" at least he hoped that's who was holding his hand. He was naked from the waist up, still wearing the lower part of his armor.

"You said you wanted to meet up later." she had changed in to a t-shirt and sweatpants, since it took the doctors over 3 hours to stabilize him (since she had been crying so hard she nearly collapsed South took Jen back to her room to change.)

"How long was I out?" he asked in a whisper, as it still hurt to breathe,

"9 hours; you went in to cardiac arrest," her voice got noticeably emotional. She had been by his side for 5 hours, praying for him to open his eyes. "But on a positive note-Wyoming told me to tell you, he's impressed; he wants to meet you, maybe be your mentor."

"Who's Wyoming?" he had not met many of the other agents.

"The one in white… oh sorry-the British one." She self corrected. She was so used to referring to people by their armor color.

"I've been tinkering and I think I know a way to improve the resolution on your helmet." she was holding his helmet in her other hand, touching the inside where she could still feel the warmth of his breath.

"Any word on my ranking?" he said, he was able to take a breath on his own, he practiced a few more, surprised at how quickly he was recovering.

"33rd, but that's not bad for someone brand new, you'll have other chances to prove yourself." she put down his helmet and rested her head on his shoulder, "try to get some rest, now that I know you're going to be ok." and by that she meant she needed to sleep. They both closed their eyes.

He stroked her cheek, down her jaw line. She was so beautiful. Part of him wondered if she wore glasses; all hot smart girl wore glass, right? He then had a funny realization, "disney.."

"what?" she said not opening her eyes.

"disney land-disney world; California..and...Florida." he said with a full on smile; meeting her was fate. Her love was god's way of repaying him for his sacrifice.

"Does that mean you'll move in with me?"Agent South used to be Jen's roommate but as Agents rise in rank (and are therefore sent on more missions) they get assigned solo rooms, so they can rest and recharge no matter their schedule.

"Sure, as soon as I get out of here." He was too overjoyed to rest.

"Well now that's you're awake they can take you off the respirator as early as tomorrow. Then they'll probably just discharge you with a temporary inhaler." the medical technology on the ship was just that good.

Tomorrow would be the start of an amazing new life. Florida met with Wyoming, who, true to his word wanted to train him. (Although he has had the habit of telling knock-knock jokes that made no sense.) He moved in to California's room where there were two twin beds, just the way it was when South lived there. They pushed together the beds almost immediately.